Hydraulic operating device



April 7, 1936. T. w. DRlEscl-l 2,036,797`

HYDRAULIC OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l F121. v Z-- l m Y TheOdoveWDviesch,

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April 7, 1936. T. w. DRlEscl-l 2,036,797

l HYDRAULIC OPERATINGp DEVICE Filed June 12, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor'. Theodore W. DVesch,

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is Atto-#heg Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES HYDRAULIC OPERATING nEvlcE Theodore W. Driesch, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 12, 1934, Serial No. 730,237

11 Claims.

ment of the piston in both directions Without reversing the rotation of the pump driving motor and 'a further object of the invention is the p'rovision of a compact, double-acting hydraulic operator in which the pump and the control mechanism for reversing the-movement of the piston are all mounted within the operating cylinder.

In carrying this invention into effect in one form thereof, the impeller pump and the piston are both mounted ywithin the operating cylinders with a partition between them, and rotary valve means surrounding the pump cooperates with passages in the partition means for controlling the direction of the pressure acting on the piston.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation taken in section on the line I-I of Fig. 4 viewed in the directions of the arrows with certain parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a fractional view in elevation taken in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, viewed in the directions voi. the arrows, with certain parts broken away for illustrating an operating condition of the control means; Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the device of Fig., l partly in section and withthe piston removed and certain parts broken away illustrating dilferent operating positions of the control mechanism; Fig. 5 is an exploded -view in perspective of the impeller pump and control mechanism of the device of Fig. l; and

^ Fig.' 6 is a view in elevation, partly in section of a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, a cylindrical fluid container I is provided with'a cover plate II upon which an electric driving motor I2 is vertically mounted so that its shaft I3 extends beneath the cover plate into the container. The cover plate II is.constructed to provide an 1ntegral supporting platform I4 extending beneath the top of the container I0.

The cylindrical container I0 iszlled with a (ci. fio-52) suitable fluid medium, such for example asioil,

to a point which is preferably substantially level with the platform I4. A piston I5 is arranged" within the cylindrical casing I0 for vertical movment, and the movement of the piston is trans- 5 mitted to an external load by means of a pair of connecting rods I6. 'I'he lower ends of these connecting rods I6 are secured by suitable fastening means to the piston I5 whilst the upper ends of these connecting rods extend through the 10 cover plate II and are secured to a cross-head Il which is adapted to be connected to any suitable load. At the bottom of the container, is an impeller pump illustrated as comprising a housing I8 within which an impeller' I9v is rotatably 15 mounted. The housing I8 is preferably formed with upper and lower plates and 2I which are spaced apart by a. circumferential wall member 22 to provide a pressure chamber 23 for radial exhaust of the impeller I9. This structure is 20 clearly visible in the exploded viewof Fig. 5. 'Ihe housing also comprises upper and lower hub members 24 and 25 respectively, which are preferably formed integrally with the top and bottom plates'20 and 2I respectively.

As shown, the top hub portion 24 is provided with a plurality of axialintake ports 26 and a. circumferential row of intake ports 2l. The lower hub member is provided with an upper circumferential row of intake ports 28 and a 30 lower circumferential row of intake ports 29. Likewise the top plate 20 of the housing is provided with a plurality of axial discharge ports 30 and the circumferential wall member 22 is provided with a plurality of circumferential discharge ports 3|.

Within the fluid container I0 is a cylindrical tank 32, the outside diameter of which is smaller than the inside diameter of. the fluid container 'lo so that the wan of the inside tank s2 is 40:

spaced from thewall of ,the external container I0. The inside tank 32 serves the double function of providing a cylinder within which the piston I5 slides and of providing a passageway 33 leading from the exhaust of the pump to the 45 -space above the piston I5. This inside tank 32 is preferably formed by an upper portion 32B and a bottom portion 32s secured together by a suitable fastening means 34 (Fig. 5).

Partition means in the form of a tubular member 35 are provided for restricting the exhaust from the pump to the space on one side of the piston and the intake to the space on the opposite side of the piston. -As shown, the upper end of the tubular member 35 is secured to the 55 platform I4 byany suitable fastening means whilst its lower end is .provided with a flange 36 either'formed integrally with the upper portion 32,. Vof the inside tank or connectedxthereto by suitable lfastening means. The lower portion 32s of the inside tank ls formed integrally with a tubular member 31 which may be regarded as an extension of the tubular member 35. This extended portion 31 is suitably secured in the in a bearing 4I in the supportingl platform I4 and in a bearing 42 centrally mounted within the tubular extension near the bottom of the fluid container. 'I'his drive shaft 40 is connected to 'the motor shaft I3 by suitable coupling means 43 and the impeller I9 is keyed to the shaft 40 so as to rotate therewith when the pump driving motor I2 is energized; In order to rotate the housing between its two limiting positions, suitable actuating means are provided. v 'Ihese means are illustrated as comprising a pin 44 through the plates 2II and 2| of the housing, a slotted member 45 engaging with the pin and a vertical spindle 46 extending upwardly through the cover plate Il. A manually operated handle 41 is illustrated as being provided foil rocking the shaft 4B so as to move the housing between its two limiting positions. It will be understood. however, that any other suitable means such for example as a pair4 of solenoids or a single solenoid and a spring may be utilized instead. The handle 41 is shown merely for simplicity.

InFlg.4thehousing I3isshowninone0fits limiting positions which is denoted as position A, whilst in Fig.'3 the housing is shown in the other 'of its positions which is denoted as position Bf It will be observed that in position B the housing member is rotated through an angle in a clockwise direction from position A. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, this angle is approximately 22S/2.

Within the tubular member 3i is astationary member 48 which is provided with a plurality of openings or passages 48 and similarly the lower portion 31 of the tubular member is provided with a plurality of circumferential openings or passages 5l. The taff. 43 and 53 register respectively with intake ports 28 and 20 when the housing is `in position A, whereas intake ports 2i and l29 are covered when the housing is in position B.' Likewise, the flange 36 of the tubular member is provided with a circumferential row of openings or m.- z s Il which register with the exhaustports 33' when' the housing is in position A. In addition the tubular member 35 is provided with a circumferential row of passages I2 whilst the lower portion 31 of the member is provided with asimilar row of l umferential passages I3. The es 52 and .53 register respectively with intake ports 21 and 23 when the housing is in position B. Near the lower extremity of the upper portion of the inside tank member 32, is a row of circumferential openings or passages I4 which lead into the :se: eway 33 and 4which register with the exhaiist-m 3| when the housing is in the position B. -Itwillthusbeseenthatthehmisingmember I8 of the pump is a rotary valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid to one side or the other of the piston I5 and thus to cause it to move in the desired direction. l

In addition tothe ports and passages already described, it will be observed that the pump housing is provided with a pair of channels 55.

and 56 arranged diametrically opposite each other and passing through the housing including bothtop and bottom plates and 2l. The openings of these channels 55. and 56; respectively in the top plate are clearly visible in Fig. 5. As shown, the ange 3B of the lower tubular portion 31 is provided with openings or passag 55s and 5,6 which register respectively with the channels 55 and 56 when the housing is in position B.

.With the above understanding of the structure and arrangement'of the various ports and passages, the operation of the device itself will readily be understood from the following detailed description: y Assuming the piston I5 to be at the bottom of its stroke as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the pump housing to bev in the position A, energization of the motor I2 by connection to a source of electric` powerproduces rotation of the drive shaft 43 and the impeller I9. Fluid is directed from ,the space above the piston Ii through the passages 51 in thel tubular member 35, thence downwardly through the tubular member, through es 49 and intake ports 20 to the impeller. Fluid is 'also ldrawn downwardly through the passage 33 between the inner tank and outer container, through es Il and lntakeports 20 andthenceaxiallyupwardlytothc impeller.

' Since fluid is directed axially in both directions into the central intake of the impeller, end thrust is eliminated. From the impeller I3, fluid 'is discharged radially outwardly into the pressure chamber 23 and thence upwardly through. exhaust ports 33 and passages il tothe space beneath the piston. As a result, the fluid pressure against the lower surface of the piston is increased thereby producing a differential fluid i pressure which causes the piston I5 to move' upwardly. This pressure and movement are transmittedthrough the connecting rods Il to the externaljoad to which the cross-head I1 is connected.

When the piston I5 reaches thev upper limit of its stroke, this differential fluid pressure' acm the piston is maintained, but not in` creased due to the fact that the impeller pump is not a positive displacement pump.

In order toreverse the direction of the differential `fluld pressure across the piston and return the piston to its initial position at the lower end of its stroke, the handle 41 is moved to shift the pump housing I3 from position A to position B. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the passages 49, 5l formerly in register with intak and 2, and the l-I :Q: 1;.; 5I formerly in register wlth exhaust ports 3l are now covered. Fluid is now drawn from the space beneath.- the piston through es 52 and intake Aports 21 in register therewith, and

thence axially downwardly into the impeller.

Simultaneously fluid is'drawn from the space beneath the piston through passages ii. and 58. in the flange 36 and the channels i! and in register therewith through passages t and its in the flange 38 to the chamber 33 in the lower end-of the inside tank beneath the against the lower face is decreased, and the resulting differential fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston causes the latter to move downwardly until it again arrivesat the lower end of its stroke as illustrated in Fig. 2. 'Operation of the handle 41 to shift the housing from position B to position A will produce upward movement of the piston in the manner previously described.

In the modification of Fig. 6, a'plurality of ducts 59 lead from the tubular member 60 to a manifold 6I surrounding the pump housing 62. A second plurality of ducts 63 communicate with the space beneath the piston 64 by means of passages 65 in the flange 66 and channels (not shown) through the pump housing 62.

The ducts 59 and 63 take the place respectively of the fluid passageway 33 and chamber 39 of the structure ofv Fig. 1, thereby eliminating the necessity of the inner tank 32 of Fig. 1. Consequently but a single container 61 serving both as the-fluid container and the operating cylinder for the piston is required. The remainder of the structure and the arrangement of the ports and passages is otherwise identical with the correspondingfeatures in the structure yof Fig. l, and repetition of thedescription is,

therefore, unnecessary.

In operation with piston 64 at the bottom of its stroke fluid is drawn from the space above the piston 64 through the tubular member 60 and intake ports 68 to the intake of the impeller and also from the tubular member- 60 through the ducts 59 through the intake port 69 and thence upwardly to the intake of the impeller. Fluid is discharged radially outwardly from the impeller and upwardly through the exhaust ports 'I0 to the space beneath the piston. The differential pressure thus produced on opposite sides oi the piston causes the latter to move upwardly.

The return or downward stroke of the piston is accomplished by shifting Vthe pump housing from the position A to position B thereby closing the ports previously mentioned. Fluid is then drawn from the space beneath the piston through passages 65, channels (not shown) in housing 62, ducts 63 andthence axially upwardly to the intake ofthe impeller. Likewise fluid is drawn through intake ports 1| and axially downwardly to the intake of the impeller. From the impeller fluid is discharged radially outwardly through circumferential exhaust ports into the manifold 6I and thence upwardly through the ducts 59, into the tubular member 60 and thence to the space above the piston 64. As a result, the direction of the differential fluid pressure across the piston is reversed and the latter is caused to move downwardly. This operation is repeated as often, as the'rotary valve means, i. e., the pump housing is shifted between its limiting positions A and B.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, this invention is deand that the invention is not limited thereto since alterations and modifications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art lwithout departing from the true spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism composing a fluid container, a piston movably mounted therein, an impeller pump mounted in said container, a tubular member having spaced apart flanges to provide a space for said pump and having passages leading tov both sides of said piston, a housing member for said impeller pump mounted in the space between said anges for rotation between two limiting positions and provided with intake and exhaust ports, certain of said ports being arranged to register with certain of said passages when said housing is in one of said positions to effect movement of said piston and certain of said ports arranged Ito register with certain of said passages in the other position of. said housing to effect reverse movement of said piston, and means for actuating said housing from one of said positions to the other.

2. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a fluid container, a piston movably mounted therein, an impeller pump mounted within said lcylinder for producing a differential fluid pressure on opposite sides of said piston to effect movement thereof, partition means comprising a tubular member having spaced apart flanges to provide a space for said pump and having at least a pair of passages leading to each side of said piston, a. housing for said impeller rotatably mounted in the space between said flanges and having intake and discharge ports, one Vof each of said pairs of passages being arranged to register with an intake port and with an exhaust port respectively when said housing is in one of said positions to effect movement of said piston in one direction, and the other of each of said pairs oi passages being arranged to register with an intake and an exhaust port'res'pectively when said housing is in said other position to effect movement of said piston in the opposite direction and means for effecting movement of said housing from one of said positions to the other.

3. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a cylindrical fluid container, a piston movably mounted therein, 4an impeller pump for producing a differentiaLfluid pressure on opposite sides of said piston to effect movement thereof, partition means comprising a tubular member having spaced apart flanges to provide a space for said pump, said tubular member having at-.least two passages leading to one side of said piston and one of said flanges having at least ltwo passages leading from said space to the other side of said piston, a housing for said impeller mounted in said space' for rotation between two limiting positions, said housing having an intake port arranged to register with one of said passages/'leading to said one side of Asaid piston and an-exhaust port arranged to register with one of said flange passages when said housing is in one of said positions and having a second exhaust port arranged to registerl-with another of said passages moving said housing from one of said positionsto the other lto effect movement thereof in opposite directions.

4. A double acting hydraulic operating comprising a cylindrical' illlid container, a piston mounted for longitudinal movement therein, an impeller mounted in said container beneath said piston for producing a diiferential fluid pressure on opposite sides of said piston to effect movement thereof, partition means comprising a centrally disposed tubular member having passages providing communications from the space on one side of said piston and having a pair of flanges spaced apart to provide a space for said impeller and provided with passages affording communication from the exhaust of said impeller to the space on the other side of said piston, and rotary valve means comprising a housing for said impeller mounted -in -said space and having passages adapted to register with the passages 'in said tubular member and in said flange for reversing said communications to effect reversal of the movement of said piston.

5. A double acting hydraulic operating mecha- Vnism comprising a fluid container, a piston movably mounted therein, an impeller pump mounted in said container comprising a-rotatably mounted impeller and a housing therefor mounted for movement between limiting positions, said housing being provided with a plurality of intake ports and a plurality of exhaust ports, a tubular member having spaced apart flanges Ito providea space for said pump and` and means for moving said housing from one' of saidpositions to another to reverse the movement of said piston.

6. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a fluid container, a piston` movably -mounted therein, means for producing a differential pressure on opposite sides of said piston to effect movement thereof comprising a rotatably mounted impeller and a housing therefor operable between limiting positions and provided with an exhaust port and with a pair of central intake' ports for supplying fluid in opposite directions to said impeller, partition means including a tubular member having flanges spaced apart to provide a; space for said housing and having a plurality of passages including a passage through each of said flanges leading to one side of said piston and a plurality ofpassages leading tothe other side of said,

piston, one of saidintake ports being arranged to. register with one of the leading to one side of said piston and a channel through said housing arranged to register with said iiange passages to establish communication fr om said one side of said piston to the other of said intake ports when said piston is in one ofvsaid positions and,means .for'moving said housing from one of said positions to the other.

fis '1.` An hydraulic loperating m eofmdeviceprising a fluid container, a' piston movably mounted therein, means for producing a differential fluid pressure on opposite sides'of said piston to effect movement thereof comprising a rotatably mounted impeller and a housing therefor arranged for movement between limiting positions, said housing being provided with a plurality of central intakel ports on-each side oi' said impeller and with a plurality of exhaust ports. partition means including a'tubular member having flanges spacedvapart to provide a space for said housing, a plurality of passages through said flanges leading to one side of said piston, a plurality of passages through said tubular member leading to each side of said piston, certain of lsaid intake ports being arranged to register with certain -of said passages leading to said one side of said piston and certain of said exhaust portsbeing arranged to register with certain of said passages leading to the other side of said piston, and others of said intake and exhaust ports arranged to register with others of said passages when said housingis moved to another position, a channel through said housing arranged to registerwith a passage in each of said flanges to establish communication between one of said intake ports to said one side of said piston when said housing is in said first position, and means for. moving said housing from one of said positions to .the other.

8. A double acting hydraulic operating mechvanism comprising a fluid container, a tank open in said tank having spaced apart flanges to provide a space for said housing, the wall of said tank being spaced from the wall of said container to provide a fluid passage leading to one side of said piston, said tubular member having an opening leading to the opposite side of said piston and arranged to register with one of said intake ports and said tank having an opening arranged to registerwith one of saiddischargeports when said housing is 'in'one position thereby to effect movement of said piston in one direction, said tubular member -having additional openings leading to both sides of said piston and arranged when said housing is in a second position to 'register 'with exhaust and intake ports to eect reverse movement of said piston.

9.l A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a iiuid container, a piston movably mounted therein, a pump mounted in said container for producing a differential pressure on opposite sides of said piston compris- I ing a rotatable impeller anda housing movable between two positions and-provided with intake and exhaust ports,v means for driving said impeller, partition means comprising a tubular member leading to one side of said piston and.

provided with an opening through the wall thereof arranged to register withvan intake port and means connecting an exhaust port with the opposite side of said piston when said housing is in one of saidpositionstherebytto eiIectmovement oi'f said piston, a duet leading from said tubular'member to an exhaustport and.ar'

aosene'z ranged to register therewith when said housing is in a second position, said tubular member being provided with anadditional opening leading to said opposite side of said piston and arranged to register with an intake port when said housing is in said second position thereby to effect reverse movement of said piston, and

- means for effecting movement of said housing between said positions.

10. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a tluid container, a piston movably mounted therein, a pump immersed in the fluid comprising a rotatable impeller and 'a housing therefor movable between two limiting positions, driving means for rotating said impeller Vto produce a differential iluid'pressure on opposite sides of said piston to eil'ect movement thereof, partition means comprising a tubular member having spaced apart ilanges providing a space for said housing, said tubular member having openings leading to both sides of said piston and said flanges having openings leading to one side of said piston, a. duct leading from said housing to said tubular member, said housing having an intake port on one'sideof said impeller arranged to register with an opening insaid tubular member leading to one side of said piston and an intake port on the opposite' side of saidimpeller arranged to register with an opening leading through said duct to said one side of said piston and an exhaust port arranged to register with an openingl in said flange ter with openings in said tubular member leadranged to register with an opening in said duct leading to said one side of said piston, thereby to reverse the movement of said piston.

1v1. A double acting hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a fluid container, a cylindrical member open at one end immersed in the fluid within said container, a piston movably mounted in said cylindrical member, the walls-of 'said container and cylindrical member being spaced apart to provide a fluid passageway leading to the space on one side of said piston, a' longitudinally extending tubular member within said cylindrical member provided with separated anges extending outwardly to said cylindrical member to form a space and having a plurality of openings leading to said onev side of said-piston and a plurality of openings leading to the opposite side of said piston, said cylindrical member having openings inl the wall thereof leading from said passageway to said space, an impeller, a rotatably mounted housing therefor mounted in said space for movement between limiting positions, said housing being provided with a plurality of intake ports'and a plurality oi' discharge ports, certain of said intake ports being arranged to register with certain of said openings leading to said one side of said piston and certain of said discharge ports being arranged to register with certain of said openings leading to said opposite sides of said pistonwheri said housing is in one of said positions, and 'others of said discharge ports being arranged to register with said openingsvin said cylinder wall and certain of s aid intake ports being arranged to register with certain o1' said openings leading to said opposite sides when said housing is in the other of said positions, andmeans for moving said housing from one of said positions to the other.

THEODORE W. DRIESCH.

f CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

man; No. 2,036,797. A April '2, 193e..

' THECDCR'EVYW. vDRIESCH.

It, A is hereby .Certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correo1:.i c n as follows: Page 3, second tolumn, line 13,' c1aim 14, for the word "composing" read comprising; and that :he said `Lemiers Ptent. 4should be read with this Correction therein that :he same may conform'to V'che record of the case' in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of May, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer 6&1) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

